Tips for dealing with condensation in your home

Condensation is caused when excess moisture meets a colder surface like a wall or window. If left untreated, persistent damp can lead to mould and severe damage to your home, this effect is intensified in the colder winter months. There are two methods of removing condensation from your home, open the window and replace the warm humid air that you have heated with cold air from outside and heat it all again, or use ventilation.

Condensation is more common in bathrooms and kitchens where steam is produced by bathing or cooking. Homes are especially prone to problems with condensation during the colder months, although it can also occur in the spring and summer months due to cooler nights.

When the dew point in the air meets a surface with a lower dew point (i.e. your windows), moisture build-up occurs. While some condensation is not necessarily a bad thing, an excess amount is something that should be addressed.

Many look to reduce the moisture in their home with a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers are typically advertised as a device which removes moisture from the air using the same system of condensation that causes all those problems. However, what many do not realise is that they usually increase energy costs, are bulky and can get in the way.  Because they collect the water that would otherwise condense elsewhere, dehumidifiers need to be emptied regularly.